The global PC monitor market is up by 5% Y-o-Y in Q4 2019, IDC reports, as shipments exceed analyst expectations by reaching "just over" 33.2 million units, a number last exceeded back in Q4 2014.
Monitors also did well in full-year 2019, as shipments are up by 1.5%. Boosting such monitor momentum is the business segment, with device refresh projects further consolidating the market. In fact, the top 3 vendors-- Dell, HP and TPV-- hold nearly 50% of the 2019 market. Other factors further helped the market, including the increase in monitor sizes (23.8-inch screens overtook the 21.5-inch) and strong gaming monitor adoption.
Looking to the near future, IDC believes the market faces a number challenges in the next several quarters. The end of commercial PC Windows 10 migration should slow down monitors after the past 2 years of growth. The deteriorating situation due to coronavirus should further impact both supply and demand. Ongoing events in China remain disruptive to the monitor supply chain, and are likely to extend through H1 2020. Demand in China and other regions is also suppressed, but global shipments should improve "slightly" in H2 2020 before a shipment rebound in 2021.
"Even as the monitor supply chain moves toward recovery, challenges remain with certain component shortages, such as backlights, as well as labor and logistics issues," the analyst adds. "At the same time, concerns are quickly shifting from supply constraints to overall demand contraction across multiple markets. As more cities face the prospect of lockdowns and movement restrictions, another casualty will be brick and mortar retail channels that have long been ceding share. OEMs should take time to further assess their online strategy."
